Yeah, lining up subway tiles on old walls is no joke. I tried it in my place and honestly, I thought it’d be a quick weekend project... ended up taking way longer because nothing was straight. I kept thinking, “How crooked can one wall actually be?” Turns out, very.
I almost went with hex tiles for the floor but chickened out after hearing about all the grout lines. I’m not the best at keeping up with cleaning, so more places for grime to hide sounded like a nightmare. But I’ve seen some bathrooms where the hex tiles look really cool, especially with dark grout—kind of hides the dirt and gives it a bit of an edge.
Subway tiles definitely feel classic, but yeah, you need patience and a lot of spacers if your walls are wavy. I guess it comes down to how much time you want to spend fussing over details versus just getting it done. Either way, those little imperfections end up giving the room some personality.
I hear you on the subway tile struggle—my last bathroom reno had me cursing every time I hit another wonky corner. I actually did go with hex tiles on the floor, though. Yeah, the grout lines are a pain, but honestly, with a darker grout, it’s not as bad as I thought. Still, if you’re not into scrubbing, I get why you’d skip it. Those little quirks in the tile job end up making the space feel lived-in, at least that’s what I tell myself when I spot a crooked line.
Subway tiles are definitely easier on the wallet and the nerves, at least in my experience. Lining them up is a pain, but once you get a rhythm going, it’s pretty straightforward—just a lot of patience and a good level. I totally get what you mean about those corners, though. I ended up using tile leveling clips for my last project, and it helped keep things looking less “DIY” and more intentional.
Hex tiles look amazing, but wow, the grout lines multiply fast. I did a small powder room floor with them and went with medium gray grout to hide dirt and minimize scrubbing. Still, if you’re on a tight budget or short on time, subway tiles win out for me. The quirks do add character, but if you’re detail-obsessed like me, it’s hard not to notice every little misalignment... I guess it comes down to whether you want something classic and easy or a bit more unique (and labor-intensive). Either way, both have their headaches—just different flavors.
I keep hearing that subway tiles are “easier,” but I’m not totally convinced they’re foolproof.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about—one slightly crooked line and I’ll see it forever.“if you’re detail-obsessed like me, it’s hard not to notice every little misalignment...”
Has anyone regretted going with hex tiles because of the grout? I love the look, but the idea of cleaning all those lines is kind of stressing me out. Is it really that much worse than subway, or am I overthinking it?
Honestly, I totally get where you’re coming from about the grout lines on hex tiles. When I first started planning my bathroom, I was obsessed with those little honeycomb shapes, but the thought of scrubbing all those lines made me pause. Thing is, I ended up going with hex tiles anyway, and it hasn’t been as bad as I feared. I used a darker grout (charcoal, I think?) and it hides a lot of the day-to-day grime. Plus, it gives the tiles this cool, graphic look.
Subway tiles look “easy” on Pinterest, but like you said, if you’re detail-oriented, every tiny misalignment jumps out. I actually find the hex pattern a bit more forgiving—if one is a hair off, it doesn’t mess with the whole line like subway tiles do. Maybe it’s just me, but the little imperfections kind of add character.
If you love the hex look, I wouldn’t let the grout scare you off. There are some good eco-friendly grout sealers now that make cleaning way less of a chore. Just my two cents.
